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Why Billy Graham’s legacy is complex
News appeared this afternoon that Billy Graham had died at the age of 99. The significance of this moment is clear – he was someone who lived an extraordinary long life, met the great and the good of all the world, changed the lives of countless thousands who were not the great and the good…
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Visit of the Primus, the Most Rev Mark Strange
It was great to be with the Primus, the Most Rev Mark Strange this morning in St Mary’s in which he talked about authority and what he’s been discovering since being elected as Primus. Here’s his sermon: Here’s the forum conversation we had after the service in which we talked about he Anglican Communion, the…
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New Year Predictions for 2018
General Election in the second half of the year. “…and as the polls close, our exit poll predicts that the Conservative Party is unlikely to be able to form a new government…” The next but one leader of the Conservative Party becomes Ruth Davidson MP. The hipsters get bored of vinyl and discover cameras with…
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Last year’s predictions – how did I do (2017)
Let’s take a quick look at how well I did at predicting 2017 1 – Trump will become President of the USA later this month but won’t manage to survive for 4 years. (And don’t be rejoicing anyone, take a look at his VP). Well, Trump did but we won’t know yet whether he will…
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Here comes the sun
The solstice is past. Rejoice.
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Advent and How Religion Works
Religion is a funny thing. It is on the one hand about doing what comes naturally to people. And on the other hand it is about doing the very opposite. Let me explain. Some aspects of religion are about what comes naturally and easily to people – things like prayer and things like the way…
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Statement regarding Prayers for Prince George
Nearly two years ago, I wrote a piece about how campaigners might change the Church of England to make it more inclusive of LGBT people. The post was copied and pasted elsewhere and commented on widely at the time. In those two years I can’t remember any negative comment about it. It included the suggestion…
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Inclusive Language and Politeness
Every now and then I learn how to be just a bit more polite to someone. It isn’t that I’m particularly rude, at least, I hope not. It is more that I’m still learning about people and still learning about how people prefer to be treated. Meeting a lot of people as I do means…
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The Episcopal Way of Death
I shall spend a considerable part of my work today thinking about how to help the congregation here to face death. Face their own deaths and face the reality of the deaths of those they have known through the years – the reality of those whom they have loved with a passion and the reality…
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Love means Love
Members of the Scottish Episcopal Church voted earlier this year to allow the marriage of same-sex couples to be able to be conducted by those clergy who wish to conduct them. We voted on that after years of discussion. It was passed by the 2/3rds majority in the House of Bishops, the House of Clergy…